Bat and ball game apparatus



p 1957 T. J. BUTLER 2,805,063

BAT AND BALL. GAME APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1955 2 SheetsSheetl IN V EN TOR. jzwpas CZZBa/Z'ZEJ} iiiny qg T. J. BUTLER BAT AND BALL GAME APPARATUS Sept. 3, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1955 III/I/YIIIIII/I/ n we a 8 W m United States Patent 2,805,063 BAT AND BALL GAME APPARATUS Thomas J. Butler, Arlington, N. J.

Application April 5, 1955, Serial No. 499,273

7 Claims. (Cl. 273-95) This invention relates to game apparatus, and has reference, more particularly, to apparatus by aid of which a novel bat and ball game can be played.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel game apparatus which comprises means adapted to be struck by a bat wielded by a batter, said means, when so struck, being operative to toss up a ball so that the batter can strike at the ball with the bat whereby to drive said ball out into a field occupied by other players, who play to catch or stop the batted out ball and throw it back to a catcher stationed near the apparatus, so that said catcher can replace the returned ball on the apparatus ready for a next play; the objective of the field players being to thus return the batted out ball in the shortest possible elapsed period of time, and the objective of the batter being to so direct and drive the ball that such return thereof requires the longest possible elapsed period of time; andto such end the apparatus further includes means for measuring and indicating the period of time which elapses from the moment the ball is released and batted out to the moment it is returned and replaced on the apparatus.

The invention has for another object to provide a bat and ball game apparatus of the character above stated wherein the ball tossing means, when actuated, releases a spring driven timing mechanism by which elapsed time of a play is measured and indicated; said ball tossing means including a latching device which must be hand released to permit resetting of the ball tossing means for reception of a returned ball thereon ready for a next play; means being further included which is operated by the ball tossing means, when the latter is released from the restraint of the latching device and reset, whereby to stop the operation of the timing mechanism.

The invention has for a further object to provide a bat and ball game of the character above stated which is adapted for play by either a right handed or a left handed batter.

The above and other objects will be understood from a reading of the following description of the game apparatus of this invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the bat and ball game apparatus according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of said apparatus with the cover of the casing thereof removed; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken on line 3-3 in Fig.2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 2, showing the latch device for the ball tossing means in its released condition; Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4, but showing the latch device in its latched condition; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary'top plan .view showing the elapsedtime indicating dial of the game apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, the reference character '10 indicates an upwardly open casing, the open top of which is normally closed by a removable cover 11. Said casing 10 is provided at its front and rear ends and at its opposite sides with supporting legs 12. Journaled in and between bearings 13, which are connected with the inner faces of the side walls of the casing 10, in rearwardly spaced relation to the front end of the casing, is a transverse rock-shaft 14, the respective ends of which project outwardly from opposite sides of said casing 10. The side walls of the casing, forwardly of the rock-shaft 14, are formed to provide inwardly inclined sections 15 convergent upon the forward end of the casing, thus providing clearance for ball supporting portions of the ball tossing means of the apparatus. Preferably there are two such ball tossing means, respectively located exteriorly of the casing 10 at opposite sides thereof; one, generally indicated by the reference character R, adapted to serve a right-handed batter, and-the other, generally indicated by the reference character L, adapted to serve a left-handed batter. The ball tossing means R is fixed on one exteriorly projecting portion of the rock-shaft 14, and the ball tossing means L is fixed on the opposite exteriorly projecting end of said rock-shaft 14.

Each ball tossing means comprises a lever member 16 having a forwardly extending and normally downwardly inclined ball supporting arm 17 and a rearwardly extending and normally upwardly inclined striker arm 13. Afiixed to the free end portion of the ball supporting arm 17 are a pair of divergent, upstanding ball engageable prongs 19, which, in conjunction with the ball supporting arm 17 provide a three point supporting rest for a ball 13 to be played. Suitably afi'ixed to the adjacent side wall of the casing 10, to project outwardly therefrom beneath the free end portion of the striker arm 18, is a stop abutment 21 having an upstanding buffer piece 22 adapted to be engaged by the stop arm 18, when the lever member 16 is actuated to effect a ball tossing operation hereinafter more particularly explained. Preferably the striker arm 18 is provided at its free end with an upstanding striker piece 23. 7

Means is provided for timing a ball play effected by the use of the ball game apparatus. This means comprises a perpendicular rotatable shaft 24, which is journaled in a bearing 25 with which the bottom of the casing'ltl is provided, so as to project upwardly through the casing interior, intermediate the rock-shaft 14 and the rear end of said casing. The upper end of said shaft 24 extends outwardly through the casing top cover 11, and aflixed to the externally projecting end of said shaft, e. g., by engagement with a square end portion 26 with which said shaft is provided, so as to be rotated by said shaft, is an elapsed time indicating dial 27. This dial 27 is graduated to indicate time units, preferably in seconds, and to a time period range of two or more minutes. Said dial 27, when rotated, moves relative to a fixed indicating mark 28 with which the top cover 11 of the casing is provided.

Mounted on said shaft 24, but not directly aflixed thereto, is a driven gear wheel 29. Fixed on said shaft 24 to rotate therewith adjacent to said gear wheel 29, is a ratchet wheel 30. Pivotally mounted on the driven gear wheel 29 is a pawl 31, which is urged by a leaf spring 32, also carried by said driven gear wheel 29, to engage said ratchet wheel 30, whereby, at proper times, to transmit driven rotary movement of the shaft 24 to said gear wheel 29.

Intermediate said driven gear wheel 29 and the forward end of said casing 10 is another perpendicular rotatable shaft 33, which is journaled in a bearing 34 with which the bottom of the casing 10 is provided. Fixed on said shaft 33 is a gear 35 which meshes with the driven gear wheel 29 so as to be driven thereby, and, in turn, to drive 3 said shaft 33. Also fixed on said shaft 33, so as to be driven thereby, is a gear wheel 36.

Forwardly of the gear wheel 36 is a stationary shaft 37, upstanding from the bottom of the casing 19, upon which is rotatably mounteda governor wheel 33. Affixed to this governor wheel is a gear 39 which meshes with the gear wheel .36, whereby said governor wheel 38 is driven. In the form thereof as shown, the governor wheel 38 is provided with a plurality of radial vanes .or blades disposed in planes parallel toits axis of rotation, so that, when said governor wheel is rotated, to be subjected to resistance of air pressure.

From the above it will be understood .that the gear wheel 29, gear 35, gear wheel 36 and gear 39 provide a reduction gear train by which the governor wheelffi is driven to control the operation of the elapsed time indicating dial 27. The means for driving this gear train comprises a quadrant gear member 49 which is .120-

tatably supported by a stationary perpendicular shaft 41 uptsanding from the bottom of the casing 10, rearwardly of the perpendicular dial driving shaft 24. Fixed 'On said dial driving shaft 24 is a gear 42 which meshes with the quadrant gear member 40, so as to be driven by the latter, and thus to drive said shaft 24 and the elapsed time indicating dial 27. Said quadrant .gear member 40 is spring driven. To .so'drive the quadrant gear member, a pull'spring S is anchored by oneend to an anchoring post 43 upstanding from the bottom of the casing 10. The opposite end of said pull spring S is connected to an upstanding coupling stud 44 with which the rear end of the quadrant gear member is provided. Also upstanding from the bottom of the casing 10 is a stop post 45 which limits the rotative movement of the quadrant gear member in both directions.

When the quadrant gear member 40 is turned by the tensional pull of the spring S, the radially vaned governor wheel 38, as driven by the aforesaid reduction gear train, due to resistance of air pressure to which its vanes or blades are subjected, tends to check too rapid or unequal rotative speed of the spring driven reduction gear train, so as to assure rotation of the time indicating dial 27 at a substantially uniform speed.

The amplitude of operative rotation of the spring driven quadrant gear member 4'8 is so predetermined by said stop post 45 as to cause one complete revolution of the indicating dial 27 in an elapsed time e. g. of two minutes.

Suitably supported within the casing '10, e. g., by affixing its rear end portion to one of the bearings 13 by which the rock-shaft 14 of the ball tossing means is journaled, is a resilient brake member 46, the free end of which normally tensionally bears, with stopping effect, against the upper end of the governor wheel 38, thus preventing operation of the gear train and arresting rotation of the shaft 24 and the elapsed time indicating dial 27 by the driving force of the spring actuated quadrant gear member 49. Means is provided to release the braking effect of the brake member 46 upon actuation of the ball tossing means, the same comprising a brake member release projection or cam stud 47 which extends radially from the rock-shaft 14 of the ball tossing means. When the ball tossing means is disposed in normal ball supporting position, preparatory to play, said brake member release projection or cam stud 47 is disengaged from the brake member, thus freeing the same for its tensional down-thrusting contact with the governor wheel 38 (see Figs. 3 and 4). When the ball tossing means -is actuated, with accompanying rotation of the rock-shaft 14, said brake member release projection or cam stud 47 is carried into lifting engagement with the brake member 46, so as to disengage the same from its braking contact with the governor wheel 38 (see Fig. 5), thus permitting operation of the latter under the drive of the gear train, with consequent rotation of the shaft 24 and elapsed time indicating dial 27 by the driving force of the spring actuated quadrant gear member 40.

Releasable check means is provided for holding the ball tossing means in its upswung operated position, after it has been actuated with ball tossing effect, so that it cannot be disposed in normal initial ball supporting position until released by hand. This check means (see Figs. 2, 4 and 5) comprises a check arm 48 which is affixed to the rock-shaft 14 for normal downwardly inclined extension therefrom toward the adjacent forward end of the casing 10. Supported by a housing 49, which is mounted within the forward end of the casing 10, is an upwardly projecting pivoted latch piece 50, the lower end of which is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 51 which is mounted across the lower end of the housing 49. The latch piece 50 is yieldably thrust outwardly of the housing 49 to its latching position by a compression spring 52, which is mounted between the same and the back of said housing 49. Extending outwardly from the latch piece 50, through an opening 53 in the housing 49 and adjacent end wall of the casing 10, is a finger piece 54 by which said latch piece can be manipulated to withdraw and release the same from its holding relation to the check arm 48 as upswung by actuation of the ball tossing means.

Tocondition the ball game apparatus for use, the ball tossing means is first disposed in its normal initial position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the rock-shaft 14 thereof being thereby rocked counterclockwise, whereby to disengage the brake member release projection or cam stud 47 from the brake member 46, so that the latter engages the governor wheel with braking effect operative to arrest movement thereof, and operative movement of the gear ,train by which it is operated. This having been done, using the dial .27 as means for manually rotating the shaft 24 in counterclockwise direction, such manual rotation of said shaft 24 rotates the gear 42 in like direction, thereby turning the quadrant gear member 40 in clockwise direction 'to a normal initial position, wherein its rear end is stopped against the stop post 45. Under these circumstances, the shaft 24 turns freely in the gear wheel '29, and the gear train between the latter and the governor wheel 38 remains stationary, since the 'ratchet'wheel 30 rides over the pawl 31. Such clockwise'rotation of the quadrant gear member 40 stretches the actuating spring S -to tension, ready to drive the quadrant gear member'40, when the governor wheel is released from the-arresting effect of the brake member '46, and the gear train is thus freed for operative movement.

The ball game having been conditioned for use, a ball B is deposited on the ball tossing means; on the ball tossing'portion R thereof if a right-handed batter is to play, or on the ball tossing portion L, if a left-handed batter is to play. The ball Blbeing in place, the batter, wielding his bat, strikes therewith thestriker piece 23 of the ball tossing portion by which the ball is supported. The impact of the bat upon the striker piece swings down the striker arm 18 and upswings the ball supporting arm 17, so that the ball B, supported by the latter, is

tossed 'up into the air in front of the batter, whereupon the batter strikes at the ball with the bat, whereby to drive said ball out into the field occupied by other players whoioppose the batter. Such voperation of the ball tossing means rocks the rock-shaft14 in clockwise direction, whereby tomove the cam stud 47 to engage and release the'brake member 46, and 'at'the same time to upswing the .check arm 48 so that it is engaged by the latch piece 50, thus holding the operated 'ball tossing means in said brake member releasing position (see Fig. 5),.

The operated ball tossingmeans having released the governorwheel controlled gear train for movement, the tensioned drive spring S how rotates the quadrant gear member 40 in counterclockwise direction, and drives the gear 42 to rotate theshaft 24'and ratchet wheel 30, whereby the latter, operating against the .pawl 31, drives the r gear wheel, and throughdhelatter the .gear trainand governor wheel 38. The driven rotation -of the shaft 24 revolves the elapsed time indicating dial 27, so that the same functions with elapsed time indicating effect, until the ball tossing means is manually redisposed in initial position which permits the brake member to reengage and arrest movement of the governor wheel 38 whereby to stop operation of the timing mechanism.

A ball B having been batted out by a batter, the opposing field players seek to retrieve and return the ball as quickly as possible to a catcher stationed near the ball game apparatus. When the catcher gains possession of the ball, he must first manually release the latch piece 50 to permit return of the ball tossing means to its initial ball supporting position, and then replace the ball there upon. As will now be understood, such return of the ball tossing means to initial position stops operation of the timing mechanism, so that the dial 27 thereupon indicates the period of time which has elapsed between the batting out of the ball and its retrieval and replacement in supported relation to the ball tossing means. In the playing of the game as described, the fielding players are all opposed to the batter. The players can take turns at bat, and the batter who scores the longest period of elapsed time between batting out and retrieval of the ball will be the winner.

It will be understood that, after each play, the game apparatus is readied for a succeeding play by returning the quadrant gear member 40 and dial 27 to initial positions.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A ball game apparatus comprising a casing, a rockshaft journaled across said casing, rockable ball tossing devices respectively afiixed on opposite external ends of said rock-shaft to respectively accommodate right and left hand batters, each said device comprising a lever member having a ball supporting arm and an oppositely extending striker arm adapted to be struck by a bat wielded by a batter whereby to rock the ball tossing device with ball tossing effect preparatory to batting out of the tossed ball, time measuring and indicating means provided by a rotatable shaft journaled perpendicularly through said casing, a time indicating dial mounted on an external end of said shaft for rotation thereby, spring impelled means for driving said shaft and dial, stop means to limit the amplitude of movement of said spring impelled driving means to that which effects a complete revolution of said dial within a predetermined time period, means for controlling the operative speed of said shaft and dial comprising a radially vaned governor wheel and a gear train for driving the former from said shaft, a releasable brake means cooperative with said governor wheel to normally arrest operative rotation of said shaft and dial, means operated by said rock-shaft, when rocked by the actuated ball tossing device, effective to release said brake means, whereby to initiate operative rotation of said shaft and dial and manually releasable detent means to hold the ball tossing devices in brake means releasing position, whereby operation of the shaft and dial of the time measuring and indicating means continues until the ball tossing devices are released and returned to initial position.

2. A ball game apparatus comprising a casing, a rockshaft journaled across said casing, rockable ball tossing device affixed to an external end of said rock-shaft comprising a lever member having a ball supporting arm and an oppositely extending striker arm adapted to be struck by a bat wielded by a batter whereby to rock the ball tossing device with ball tossing effect preparatory to batting out of the tossed ball, time measuring and indicating means provided by a rotatable shaft journaled perpendicularly through said casing, a time indicating dial mounted on an external end of shaft for rotation thereby, spring impelled means for driving said shaft and dial, stop means to limit the amplitude of movement of said spring impelled driving means to that which eflects a complete revolution of said dial within a predetermined time period, means for controlling the operative speed of said shaft and dial comprising a radially vaned governor wheel and a gear train for driving the former from said shaft, a releasable brake means cooperative with said governor wheel to normally arrest operative rotation of said shaft and dial, means operated by said rock-shaft, when rocked by the actuated ball tossing device, effective to release said-brake means, whereby to initiate operative rotation of said shaft and dial, andmanually releasable detent means to hold the ball tossing device in brake means releasing position whereby operation of the shaft and clial'of the time measuring and indicating means continues until the ball tossing device is released and returned to initial position.

3. A ball game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the releasable detent means comprises a yieldable latch piece, means to pivotally support said latch piece within the casing, said latch piece having a finger piece projecting externally of the casing and manipulatable to release the same, and a check arm affixed to and extending from the rock-shaft, whereby to be moved by the latter, when rocked by the actuated ball tossing device, into restrained engagement by said latch piece.

4. A ball game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spring impelled means for driving the shaft and dial of the time measuring and indicating means comprises a driving gear member, a gear on said shaft by which said shaft is driven by the driving gear member, a pull spring, means to anchor said pull spring by one end, means to connect the other end of said pull spring to the driving gear member, and a ratchet wheel and pawl means to transmit driven movement of said shaft and dial to the gear train and governor wheel which controls opera tive speed of said driven shaft and dial.

5. A ball game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the releasable detent means comprises a yieldable latch piece, means to pivotally support said latch piece within the casing, said latch piece having a finger piece projecting externally of the casing and manipulatable to release the same, and a check arm affixed to and extending from the rock-shaft, whereby to be moved by the latter, when rocked by the actuated ball tossing device, into restrained engagement by said latch piece.

6. A ball game apparatus comprising a casing, a rockshaft journaled across said casing, rockable ball tossing means affixed on at least one external end of said rockshaft comprising a lever member having a ball supporting arm and an oppositely extending striker arm adapted to be struck by a bat wielded by a batter whereby to rock the ball tossing means with ball tossing eifect preparatory to batting out of the tossed ball, stop means for limiting the rocking movement of the ball tossing means, time measuring and indicating means provided by a rotatable shaft journaled perpendicularly through said casing, a time indicating dial mounted on an external end of said shaft for rotation thereby, spring impelled means for driving said shaft and dial, stop means to limit the amplitude of movement of said spring impelled driving means to that which effects a complete revolution of said dial within a predetermined time period, means for controlling the operative speed of said shaft and dial comprising a radially vaned governor wheel and a gear train for driving the former from said shaft, a resilient brake member to normally engage said governor wheel to arrest movement thereof and of its driving gear train, whereby to stop operative rotation of said shaft and dial by said spring impelled driving means, a cam stud carried by said rock-shaft adapted to be moved by the latter, when rocked by the actuated ball tossing means, into lifting engagement with said brake member, whereby to disengage said brake member from the governor wheel so as to free the same, the gear train and shaft and dial for operative movement under the impulsion oi? the spring impelled driving means, and releasable detent means for holding the rock-shaft and ball tossing means in an actuatedposition which maintains the cam stud in releasing engagement with said brake member, said detent means comprising a yieldable latch piece, means to pivotally support said latch piece within the casing, said latch piece having a finger piece projecting externally of the casing and manipulatable to release the same, and a check arm affixed to and extending from the rock-shaft, whereby to be moved by the latter, when rocked by the actuated ball tossing means, into restrained engagement with said latch piece.

7. A ball game apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the spring impelled means for driving the shaft and dial of the time measuring and indicating means com- 8 prises a dr iving gearmemher, a gear on said shaft by which saidshaft is driven by the driving gear member, a pull spring, means to anchor said pull spring by one end, means to connect the other end of said pull spring to the driving gear member, and a ratchet and pawl means to transmit driven movement of said shaft and dial to the gear train and governor wheel which controls operative speed of said driven shaft and dial.

ReferencesCited in the tile of this patent Neville Oct 3, 1939 

